Written Answers Wednesday 17 November 2010

Scottish Executive

Care of Elderly People

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the mental wellbeing of older people in care homes.

Shona Robison: The Care Commission’s National Care Standards include a focus on improving and sustaining the mental wellbeing of older people in care homes in requiring care home services to provide opportunities for residents to take part in physical activities in, or outside, the home to help them to maintain physical independence and ability. Additionally, the standards require care homes to support residents to keep up relationships with friends, relatives and carers and links with their community. The Care Commission ensures the standards are met through its regular inspections of care homes.

  For those residents in care homes with dementia, our programme of work in the National Dementia Strategy, including developing and implementing a staff skills and knowledge framework and care standards, will contribute to better service response in care homes and the improvement of residents’ mental wellbeing.

  NHS Health Scotland published an action plan to address mental health improvement in later life, with key recommendations for statutory and voluntary organisations on key issues such as promoting positive attitudes to older people and ageing; enhancing the inclusion and participation of older people in their social and cultural lives; and promoting healthy lifestyles. The Scottish Government accepted these recommendations, with key activities already underway in response to the action plan.

Care of Elderly People

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to older people in care homes and hospitals.

Shona Robison: The National Dementia Strategy is committed to tackling the inappropriate prescribing of psychoactive drugs, including antipsychotics, as part of ensuring that people always receive care and treatment that is appropriate and which recognises their rights and dignity. We are undertaking a baseline assessment of current prescribing levels in preparation for an initial commitment on reducing inappropriate prescribing of psychoactive medication to be in place in 2011.

Care of Elderly People

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance with the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 regarding the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to older people in care homes and hospitals.

Shona Robison: The Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (the Act) does not specifically address particular types of medical treatment, such as the prescribing of antipsychotic drugs to older people in care settings.

  Part 5 of the Act sets out the rules on who can perform medical treatment on people who lack capacity and in which circumstances; how the presence of guardianship orders, or applications for guardianship offers, changes this; and how appeals can be made, and these parts of the Act are monitored as appropriate by a range of professional organisations and regulatory and monitoring bodies, such as the Care Commission and the Mental Welfare Commission. These regulatory and monitoring bodies are working to further integrate their roles in this and other areas in response to the Public Services Reform Act.

  The National Dementia Strategy is committed to tackling the inappropriate prescribing of psychoactive drugs, including antipsychotics, in all care settings as part of ensuring that people always receive care and treatment that is appropriate and which recognises their rights and dignity. We are undertaking a baseline assessment of current prescribing levels in preparation for an initial commitment on reducing inappropriate prescribing of psychoactive medication to be in place in 2011.

Carers

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to carers centres through carers information strategies for 2010-11, broken down by carers centre.

Shona Robison: It is not possible to determine how much of the total of £5 million allocated to NHS boards for carer information strategies (CIS) in 2010-11 has been allocated to carers centres. We have not requested that NHS boards provide information on the level of resources allocated to particular aspects of the CIS. However, we fully expect the boards’ annual reports to the Scottish Government for 2010-11, to be received after March 2011, to set out progress and achievements against the minimum requirements in NHS HDL (2006) 22 (24 April 2006).

  We know from discussions with carers’ organisations, NHS boards, local authorities and carers that a significant part of the total CIS funding of £9 million over three years is supporting carers centres.

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will fulfil the requirement of section 35 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to set out a report on proposals and policies for meeting annual emissions targets for 2010 to 2022.

Stewart Stevenson: The draft Report on Proposals and Policies has been published today (laying number SG/2010/251) and a copy will be placed in Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52063). A final report will be published following a 60-day period for Parliamentary consideration, as required by the Climate Change (Scotland) Act.

Disclosure Scotland

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred by Disclosure Scotland in preparing for the introduction of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Adam Ingram: Disclosure Scotland implementation costs, including IT costs, to end of September 2010 stand at £22,095,613.

  Ministers are committed to providing up to £53 million to cover the cost of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme. Current estimates put the cost at £44.4 million which includes £32.7 million in IT development costs. The full cost is being met by the Scottish Government.

Disclosure Scotland

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive who was employed by Disclosure Scotland to write the 136-page guidance to the new rules for the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme and what the cost was.

Adam Ingram: The guidance was written by Scottish Government officials, informed by a guidance advisory group made up of representatives from the statutory and voluntary sectors.

  A professional writer was employed for 12 months using the Scottish Government’s interim specialist contract with approved agencies. The work included:

  Working with stakeholders to understand their business needs;

  Carrying out a series of one to one discussions on requirements with advisory group members;

  Developing and drafting the core of the guidance in accessible language.

  The total cost was £81,609.67.

  The guidance was subject to stakeholder consultation and was significantly amended in response to comments.

Drug Misuse

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were recorded on 21 July 2010 as using each rehabilitation service listed in the Scottish Drug Services Directory.

Fergus Ewing: I have taken the member’s question to cover all rehabilitation services listed in the Scottish Drug Services Directory. This information is not gathered or held centrally. Data on the numbers of people accessing these services on 21 July 2010 may be available from the individual service providers.

  More generally, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that a range of treatment and support services is available locally to enable people to recover from their drug problem. We recognise that it is important to gather robust information on the number of people accessing treatment and that is why we are investing in the development of a follow-up reporting system for the Scottish Drugs Misuse Database. This system is currently being rolled-out across Scotland and will allow clients to be tracked through the treatment system and reveal more information on the number of individuals engaging with treatment provision at any given time.

  In addition to this work, the Scottish Drugs Waiting Times Framework also provides information on the number of appointments for new clients offered per quarter in specialist substance-misuse treatment services.

  For the first two quarters of 2010 (1 January to 30 June), there were 4,201 offers of appointment for structured preparatory intervention, 2,396 offers of appointment for prescribed drug treatment, 3,893 offers of appointment for community rehabilitation and 356 offers of appointment for residential rehabilitation made across Scotland. It should be noted that not all those offered an appointment may enter treatment and once they are being treated within a service, they may receive different interventions later that are not recorded in the waiting times system.

  Within the Waiting Times Framework, community based interventions include a range of interventions that have the purpose of tackling the social and psychological problems faced by the client, for example, debt and benefit problems, relationship and family issues and employability. Residential detoxification/rehabilitation is defined as detoxification and/or rehabilitation that involves the client being admitted to a residential facility or hospital.

Drug Misuse

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many spaces are available for service users in each rehabilitation service listed on the Scottish Drug Services Directory.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Drug Services Directory lists 217 community-based services as of 10 November 2010. There is no centrally held information on the spaces available for each community based service, as the capacity of these services fluctuates according to demand.

  It is noted that the number of beds available for each residential/inpatient service listed in the Scottish Drug Services Directory is available on the Scottish Drug Services Directory website and can be found at:

  http://www.scottishdrugservices.com/sdd/homepage.htm.

  However, the number of beds does not equate to the number of places available annually which depends on occupancy rates and length of programme.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who was on the panel that awarded the contract for the additional support needs national advocacy service.

Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 places a legal duty on Scottish Ministers to secure the provision of an advocacy service to be available on request and free of charge to support parents and young people in tribunal proceedings. The Scottish Government decided to run a competitive tendering process to identify one or more organisations who would be awarded a grant to run a suitably specified national advocacy service.

  Eight applications were received. All applications were assessed individually and then collectively by an assessment panel. The assessment panel comprised Rachel Sunderland, Scottish Government Support for Learning Division; Sarah O’Neill, Head of Policy at Consumer Focus Scotland and Mag Stewart, headteacher and member of the Additional Support for Learning Implementation Group.

Environment

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on improving the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network.

Roseanna Cunningham: There are many sources of guidance available from the Scottish Government and from relevant government agencies, including general guidance on ecological networks which is available through the collaboration of Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland. The Scottish Government’s consolidated Scottish planning policy sets out the approach planning authorities must take when considering planning applications which are likely to have significant effect on a Natura site. It also explains how planning authorities can take a broader approach by considering the place of Natura and other protected sites within the wider ecological networks of which they are part.

Families

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to monitor the effectiveness of the Charter for Grandchildren.

Fergus Ewing: We have taken no specific action to monitor the effectiveness of the Charter, which is a non-statutory document.

Families

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Grandparents Apart Self Help Group regarding the Charter for Grandchildren.

Fergus Ewing: We have received a number of letters from members of Grandparents Apart Self Help Group about the Charter. The letters have raised issues about individual cases, the role of local authorities and work in England and Wales.

Families

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Grandparents Apart Self Help Group and what matters were discussed.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s most recent meetings with Grandparents Apart Self Help Group were in September 2007 and September 2008. Matters discussed were grandparents’ rights, contact centres, family mediation and kinship care.

Families

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent guidance it has issued to local authorities regarding the Charter for Grandchildren.

Fergus Ewing: We have not issued any guidance to local authorities regarding the Charter for Grandchildren, which is a non-statutory document.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the result of the public inquiry into a flood alleviation scheme in Forres to be made public.

Roseanna Cunningham: My officials have received the report of the public inquiry into the Forres Flood Prevention Scheme and ministers will make a decision on the scheme as soon as possible. However, it is crucial that we have time to consider the recommendations carefully to make sure that the right decision is reached to address the flooding problem in Forres for the long-term benefit of the community.

Flood Prevention

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive with what flood prevention schemes it is assisting the City of Edinburgh Council, broken down by (a) financial costs and (b) location.

Roseanna Cunningham: Funding for flood risk management is no longer ring-fenced to specific schemes but is included within the overall level of capital support provided to local government. This provides local authorities with the flexibility to allocate the financial resources available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.

  In 2007, the City of Edinburgh Council had two confirmed flood prevention schemes, the Braid Burn and the Water of Leith. The Braid Burn scheme had been awarded a grant at 80% of the estimated cost of £28,506,520.09 in quarterly instalments to the end of 2011-12. The relevant amounts are translated into the general capital grant as part of the capital support over the period 2008-2011.

  The Water of Leith Scheme had been awarded a grant towards costs of £5.5m up to March 2008. So the general capital grant took account of the remaining estimated costs, £40.35m, spread over 6 years. In addition, in 2010-11 the level of capital support took into account the level of flood risk in the Council’s area.

  It is however for the City of Edinburgh Council to allocate resources for flood risk management from the overall resources available to it.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the role is of the National Performance Management Committee.

Nicola Sturgeon: The role of the National Performance Management Committee is set out in HDL 2006(54). The committee’s terms of reference has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52071).

Justice

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in tackling knife crime.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is working with the Violence Reduction Unit and other partners to tackle knife crime. Violent crime is at its lowest level in over 30 years with the crime of handling an offensive weapon having reduced 30% since 2006-07. This success has been achieved through tough enforcement, supported by record numbers of police officers, and innovative education initiatives like our ground breaking No Knives, Better Lives campaign. I am sure the member will join me in welcoming the fact that this has led to a 35% reduction in knife carrying in Inverclyde over the period of the campaign.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of advocates appearing in the sheriff courts in (a) criminal, (b) civil and (c) children’s cases in the last year.

Kenny MacAskill: In relation to publicly funded legal assistance, the responsibility for administering payments to advocates and solicitors for legal aid work lies with the Scottish Legal Aid Board. It is not possible to restrict the payment information to "appearance" work only. The following sums therefore include all work undertaken by counsel in legal aid sheriff court proceedings including court appearances, and for example, waiting time, written work, travel fees and outlays.

  
Civil
Criminal
Children’s
Total

£2,410,000
£1,570,000
£977,000
£4,957,000

48.6%
31.7%
19.7%
100%



  Based on financial year 2009-10. All figures inclusive of VAT.

  The criminal payments outlined above include sums paid to counsel in respect of bail appeals in the High Court, but which arise from the substantive sheriff court proceedings.

Justice

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how appearance rates for solicitors compare with those for advocates.

Kenny MacAskill: The fees for solicitors in the sheriff court are laid down in the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Solicitors in the Sheriff Court) 1989, which has periodically been updated by amendments. There is no corresponding fees table for advocates.

  Information may be held on rates paid to advocates from the records of judicial taxations undertaken by auditors of court in respect of the sheriff court. However, this information is not held by either the Scottish Government or the Scottish Court Service.

  In relation to publicly funded legal assistance, the responsibility for administering payments to advocates and solicitors for legal aid work lies with the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Information provided by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (below) outlines the different rates paid to advocates and solicitors, depending on the nature of proceedings.

  Solicitors Appearance at Court

  Table 1

  
Type of Legal Aid (LA) / Work Detail
Civil (Block) – Per 15 minutes
Civil (Detailed) – Per 15 minutes
Criminal – Per 15 minutes
Children’s – Per 15 minutes

1.  Advocacy - Solicitor
£21
£18.79 (Minimum Charge of 30 Minutes)
£19
£18.79 (Minimum Charge of 30 Minutes)

2.  Non – Advocacy Solicitor Sitting Behind Counsel
£21
£14.53
£12.67
£14.53



  The payment rates above show the fees payable to a solicitor for a court appearance of 15 minutes duration where they are personally responsible for conducting the proceedings (point 1), and where they are assisting counsel (point 2).

  Civil - There are two different methods of charging. The nature of the proceedings determines the basis of charging.

  Civil (Blocks) - The fee of £21.00 per 15 minutes would be chargeable in circumstances where the solicitor is required to charge for the work on a "block" fee basis whether in Advocacy or sitting behind Counsel. Some of the block fees as prescribed subsume the first 15 minutes advocacy. In addition, the blocks subsume waiting time for motions which would be chargeable separately in a detailed account.

  Civil (Detailed) - The fee of £18.79 per 15 minutes (£14.53 where the solicitor is assisting counsel) would apply in cases where the solicitor is required to charge for the work on a detailed basis.

  Criminal – The rate above applies in respect of solemn proceedings. In the overwhelming majority of summary criminal cases the solicitor is paid on a block fee basis which covers all work up to and including the first 30 minutes of trial and up to two diets of deferred sentence. Where the trial goes beyond 30 minutes a supplementary fee of £100.00 is payable. Thereafter a fee of £200.00 is payable for the second trial day, and £400.00 for the third and subsequent days trial.

  Children’s - The fee of £18.79 per 15 minutes (£14.53 where the solicitor is assisting counsel) would apply in all children’s proceedings which are payable in line with Civil detailed fees.

  Solicitor Preparation before Court

  Table 2

  
Type of LA / Work Detail
Civil (Block) – Dependant on Case Outcome
Civil (Detailed) – Per Quarter Hour
Criminal (Where Case Proceeds to Trial)
Children’s – Per 15 Minutes

Solicitor’s Preparation
£378 / £504 / £756
£14.53
£152.00.
£14.53 



  In addition to payment for attending court as set out in table 1, solicitors may be entitled to addition preparation as per the above table 2. Different block fees are payable depending on the stage at which the case concludes.

  Civil (Blocks) – There are three levels of preparation payable. For example a solicitor is entitled to £756.00 where evidence is led. This subsumes all work irrespective of the amount of preparation undertaken and is only payable once.

  Civil (Details) – Preparation is payable at £14.53 per 15 minutes.

  Criminal – In solemn cases block fees for aspects of preparation were introduced in July 2010. Where the case proceeds to the day of trial a fee of £152.00 is payable to subsume all preparation in the case (including citing and settling with witnesses, perusing evidence and preparing lines of enquiry and submissions) irrespective of the amount of preparation undertaken and is payable only once.

  In addition a solicitor may also be entitled to a further £38.00 (payable a maximum of two times) where the case has two further trial diets, or diets of differed sentence.

  If the case does not proceed to trial no preparation is payable.

  Prior to 5 July 2010, preparation was payable at £11.82 per 15 minutes and was considered having regard to the circumstances of each case.

  Children’s - Preparation is payable at £14.53 per 15 minutes and will be considered having regard to the circumstances of each case.

  Counsels Appearance in Court

  Table 3

  
Type of LA / Work Detail 
Civil - Per Day
Criminal (Category A) – Per Day
Criminal (Category B) – Per day
Children’s – Per Day

Junior Counsel Attending Court
£1,350 to £1,575
£575
£430
£1,350 to £1,575

Senior Counsel Attending Court
£1,750 to £3,000
£720 
£560
£1,750 to £3,000



  Counsel is paid on a different basis to the solicitor and court appearances are paid per day in court. The court day will include, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the time spent by counsel preparing the case.

  Civil and Children’s Counsel

  In civil sheriff court and children’s proceedings there is no prescribed table of fees for counsel in legal aid cases. In terms of the legal aid legislation counsel are entitled to be paid on the basis of 90 per cent of the amount of fees which would be allowed for that work on a taxation of expenses between solicitor and client, third party paying, if the work done were not legally aided.

  The daily rate above is, with the exception of the most complex cases, inclusive of all case preparation. Where payable separately it will be paid at two thirds of the court day specified in table 3.

  Where a case is of less than two hours duration the daily rate will be restricted to half of the daily rate.

  The Scottish Government and the Board are currently in the process of developing a more transparent and modern table of fees for Counsel in civil and children’s proceedings.

  Criminal Counsel

  The fee specified above is a flat rate and is the only fee payable dependant on the category of proceedings and the status of counsel.

  Where a trial day has taken place, this is inclusive of all preparation up to 7,500 sheets of Crown statements, precognitions, productions, including defence productions, and labels. Beyond 7,500 sheets counsel will be allowed separate preparation of circa 2.5 days for every 2,500 sheets. This is payable at two thirds of the specified fee for a day in court in table 3.

Justice

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hoax emergency calls there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) police force and (b) fire and rescue service areas.

Kenny MacAskill: With regard to this answer, and the answer to question S3W-37420 on 17 November 2010, it should be noted that statistics dealing with court proceedings and recorded crime are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  The available information is given in the following tables:

  (a) Police Force Area

  Hoax Emergency Calls in Scotland Recorded by the Police, 2000-01 to 2009-10

  
Year
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
268 
303 
384 
460 
369 
306 
  351 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
 211 
216 
279 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   66 
  56 
  57 

Total 
268
303
384
460
369
306
351
277
272
336

Central
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
9 
8 
  19 
  13 
  14 
7 
  6 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
  - 
- 
- 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
  - 
- 
- 

Total 
9 
8 
  19 
  13 
  14 
7 
  6 
  - 
- 
- 

Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  11 
  10 
  27 
  42 
  29 
  39 
48 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   32 
  19 
  12 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
 1 
1 
- 

Total 
  11 
  10 
  27 
  42 
  29 
  39 
48 
   33 
  20 
  12 

Fife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  20 
  29 
  25 
  17 
  11 
  17 
17 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   36 
  26 
  57 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   11 
6 
2 

Total 
  20 
  29 
  25 
  17 
  11 
  17 
17 
   47 
  32 
  59 

Grampian
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  27 
  20 
  49 
  11 
  30 
  24 
  8 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   10 
  16 
  20 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
 5 
4 
3 

Total 
  27 
  20 
  49 
  11 
  30 
  24 
  8 
   15 
  20 
  23 

Lothian and Borders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  94 
110 
  94 
198 
  84 
  77 
70 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   26 
  52 
  88 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   16 
  13 
8 

Total 
  94 
110 
  94 
198 
  84 
  77 
70 
   42 
  65 
  96 

Northern
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  10 
  11 
  21 
  10 
8 
6 
  8 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   11 
  20 
3 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
  - 
- 
- 

Total 
  10 
  11 
  21 
  10 
8 
6 
  8 
   11 
  20 
3 

Strathclyde
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
  91 
103 
  79 
  98 
132 
127 
  175 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   86 
  81 
  93 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   33 
  32 
  44 

Total 
  91 
103 
  79 
  98 
132 
127 
  175 
 119 
113 
137 

Tayside
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 2000-01 
 2001-02 
 2002-03 
 2003-04 
 2004-05 
 2005-06 
 2006-07 
 2007-08 
 2008-09 
 2009-10 

False calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes
6 
  12 
  70 
  71 
  61 
9 
19 
  - 
- 
- 

Hoax calls to the emergency services1
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
   10 
2 
6 

Bomb hoaxes1,2
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
   - 
  - 
- 
- 

Total 
6 
  12 
  70 
  71 
  61 
9 
19 
   10 
2 
6 



  Notes:

  1. Prior to 2007-08, information in this category was collected under the heading ‘false calls to the emergency services and bomb hoaxes’.

  2. This offence includes, but is not restricted to, hoax bomb calls. It is not possible to separate these offences from bomb hoax offences.

  Source: Scottish Government Police recorded crime statistics.

  (b) Fire and Rescue Service Areas

  Hoax Emergency Calls, Broken Down by Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), 2000-01 to 2009-10

  Type of Fires - False Alarms - Malicious

  
FRS
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03(1)
2003-04
2004-05

Central
488
429
431
380
370
330

Dumfries and Galloway
154
49
89
71
51
47

Fife
628
558
484
420
434
311

Grampian
299
341
325
326
271
235

Highlands and Islands
278
264
288
324
272
187

Lothian and Borders
1,424
1,179
1,296
1,159
1,256
1,117

Strathclyde
4,269
4,612
4,738
4,262
3,852
3,510

Tayside
482
533
502
465
371
313

Scotland
8,022
7,965
8,153
7,407
6,877
6,050



  
FRS
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10(p)

Central
336
340
310
278
111

Dumfries and Galloway
37
42
28
12
19

Fife
199
157
151
134
83

Grampian
252
243
235
172
189

Highlands and Islands
199
141
82
43
64

Lothian and Borders
1,088
868
1,026
849
469

Strathclyde
3,223
3,132
2,686
2,102
1,789

Tayside
295
332
265
305
207

Scotland
5,629
5,255
4,783
3,895
2,931



  Notes:

  1. - does not include incidents that occurred during national industrial action in November 2002, January 2003 and February 2003.

  p - provisional figures.

  Source: FDR1 and FDR3.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for making hoax emergency calls in each of the last 10 years, broken down by Sheriff Court area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.

  With regard to this answer, and the answer to question S3W-37419 on 17 November 2010, it should be noted that statistics dealing with court proceedings and recorded crime are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim and there is the possibility that the crime recorded by the police may be altered in the course of judicial proceedings. Also a crime may be recorded by the police in one year and court proceedings concluded in a subsequent year.

  Persons Proceeded against in Scottish Courts for Making Hoax Emergency Calls1 1999-2000 to 2008-09, by Sheriff Court.

  
Sheriff Court
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09

Total
11
18
24
15
21
28
27
27
37
26

Aberdeen
1
0
1
0
2
2
1
0
0
0

Elgin
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
0

Wick
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0

Inverness
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
4

Tain
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Kirkwall
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1

Lerwick
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

Lochmaddy
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

Stornoway
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0

Arbroath
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
0

Dundee
0
2
1
1
0
1
1
1
5
0

Perth
0
0
3
0
1
2
2
3
2
1

Alloa
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0

Falkirk
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2

Stirling
1
1
1
1
2
2
0
0
0
0

Cupar
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0

Dunfermline
0
2
0
0
1
2
1
1
4
1

Kirkcaldy
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
1
0

Haddington
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0

Edinburgh
2
2
5
0
3
3
1
1
4
3

Livingston
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
3

Selkirk
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0

Jedburgh
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Glasgow
2
1
2
1
1
5
7
5
5
2

Campbeltown
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1

Dunoon
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0

Dumbarton
0
0
0
2
1
1
0
0
0
0

Greenock
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
0

Kilmarnock
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0

Paisley
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2

Dumfries
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1

Stranraer
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0

Airdrie
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
0

Ayr
0
2
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
0

Hamilton
0
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
2
4

Lanark
0
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
0
0

Court Unknown
2
3
1
1
1
2
3
0
0
1



  Note:

  1. Where main offence. Includes prosecutions under Fire Services Act 1947 sect 31(1), Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 85(1) and Criminal Law Act 1977 sect 51(2).

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ministerial Meetings

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Kenny MacAskill: Ministers and officials meet representatives of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency on a regular basis.

  The most recent ministerial meeting was on 3 November 2010 when I met Deputy Director General Johnny Gywnne at Woodfarm Education Centre in Giffnock.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the distribution of appraisal scores was for each NHS board and Special Health Board in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and is in 2010-11.

Nicola Sturgeon: Comparative information by NHS board on the performance management outcomes for staff in the Executive and Senior Management Cohorts is not released. In many cases this would lead to the identification of individuals due to the small numbers involved.

National Health Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation’s priorities are for work in 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37293 on 15 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

National Parks

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current annual revenue and capital budget is for the (a) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and (b) Cairngorms National Park.

Roseanna Cunningham: The revenue and capital budgets for 2010-11 are detailed for each of the national park authorities in the following table.

  
 
Operating*
Capital
Total

 
£000
£000
£000

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
7,512
67
7,579

Cairngorms National Park Authority
4,871
33
4,904



  Note: *The operating figure includes depreciation.

National Parks

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether senior managers in the (a) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and (b) Cairngorms National Park receive bonus payments and, if so, how much has been paid in each year since the parks’ establishment.

Roseanna Cunningham: In the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority senior managers do not receive any non-consolidated bonus payments and none has been paid. In the Cairngorms National Park Authority, annual totals of between £1,260 and £2,644 have been awarded to senior managers since 2007-08. A further breakdown cannot be provided without contravening data protection principles, as this information could identify individuals.

  Chief executives’ pay arrangements are covered separately by the Scottish Government’s pay policy for senior appointments, and remuneration details for both National Park Authority chief executives are published yearly in the organisations’ annual report and accounts.

People with Dementia

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new care standards for dementia will include a requirement for consultation with family and carers before the prescription of psychoactive medication.

Shona Robison: The Mental Welfare Commission has been commissioned to lead on developing the new care standards for dementia, for completion in 2011. Their work is informed by the Scottish Parliament’s Cross Party Group on Dementia’s Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and Their Carers and will include a focus on the full participation of those with dementia and their families and carers in the planning, design and delivery of individual care packages, including the area of prescribing medication.

  People with dementia and their carers are directly involved in the development of the care standards.

People with Dementia

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what training will be made available to care home and hospital staff following the publication of Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy.

Shona Robison: NHS National Education Scotland and the Scottish Social Service Council have been commissioned to produce the first skills and training framework for all staff working with people with dementia and their families and carers, to be completed in 2011. This work is beginning with a baseline assessment of all current training provision and skills levels.

  The framework will include embedding new dementia competencies into existing skills frameworks and continuous professional development structures, and will also identify new training opportunities and requirements.

Pre-School Education

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of playgroups on childhood development.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37234 on 11 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Prison Service Industries products are manufactured in all prisons.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Six prisons currently manufacture Scottish Prison Industries products including Peterhead, Perth, Shotts, Glenochil, Barlinnie and Greenock.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have worked in Scottish Prison Service Industries production workshops in the last year.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of daily work places currently available in the SPS Industries production workshops is 426. The breakdown by establishment is as follows:

  Peterhead: Textiles - 30

  Timber - 24

  Perth: Textiles - 12

  Timber - 80

  Shotts: Textiles - 23

  Timber - 70

  Engineering - 25

  Glenochil: Timber - 45

  Engineering - 45

  Barlinnie: Timber - 50

  Greenock: Timber - 22

  These numbers represent available work spaces at each location and it should be noted that some establishments timetable prisoners to attend in the morning and afternoons separately to maximise attendance.

  SPS records hours of activity against all purposeful activities and in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 October 2010, there were 246,351 hours of activity recorded in SPS Industries workshops. This hourly figure represents 83,287 individual attendances by prisoners over this period. This equates to an average daily attendance at work industries placements of 462 prisoners per day, 36 prisoners over the stated capacity of industries places listed.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what kind of work opportunities are available in Scottish Prison Service Industries production workshops.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Industries production workshops exist at Peterhead, Perth, Shotts, Glenochil, Barlinnie and Greenock. Work opportunities range from cutting, sewing and assembly of fabric components, cutting, machining and assembly of timber components, to cutting, machining, welding and assembly of metal products. There are also opportunities for ancilliary operations such as workshop housekeeping tasks and machine maintenance. Where possible, prisoners are provided with the opportunity to develop vocational skills leading to certification as part of their work activity.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the income of Scottish Prison Service Industries has been in the last year; what the cost of production has been, and how the money has been used.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The cost of production of Prison Industries products for the Financial Year 2009-10 was £1,041,187 which generated General Revenue Income of £1,269,941.

  By way of comparison, the cost of production of Prison Industries products for the Financial Year 2010 to date (period of seven months) is £619,557 which has generated General Revenue Income of £762,074 to date.

  It should be noted that the primary purpose of prison industries is not to generate income but to provide work opportunities and to develop skill sets for prisoners across a range of activities that may lead to vocational training qualifications.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether prisoners working in Scottish Prison Service Industries production workshops gain qualifications.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Prisoners working in timber workshops can work towards a range of qualifications at Peterhead, Shotts and Glenochil. Those prisoners working in engineering workshops can attain qualifications at Shotts and Glenochil. Qualifications include Scottish Progression Awards, City & Guilds, Performance Manufacturing Awards and Scottish Vocational Awards.

Residential Care

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are awaiting a placement in a care home in each NHS board area and what the (a) average and (b) maximum length of wait is, also broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: Latest information on NHS delayed discharge patients awaiting placement in a care home, as recorded at the July 2010 Delayed Discharges census, is shown in the following tables.

  A delayed discharge occurs when a patient, clinically ready for discharge, cannot leave the hospital because other necessary care, support or accommodation for them is not ready and/or funding is not available, to purchase a care home place, for example.

  The six week discharge planning period is the accepted period beyond the clinically ready for discharge date during which all assessment and follow-on arrangements are put in place.

  Table 1: Number of Patients Outwith the Six Week Planning Period, Total, Median, Mean and Maximum Delay Durations for NHS Delayed Discharges Awaiting Placement in a Care Home by NHS Board at the July 2010 Census.

  
NHS Board of Treatment
Number of Patients Outwith the Six Week Planning Period1
Total (Patients)2
Total Delay (Days)3
Median Duration (Days)4
Mean Duration (Days)5
Maximum Duration (Days)6

Scotland
37
   229 
 6,867 
28.0
30.0
122

Ayrshire and Arran
-
 19 
   528 
31.0
27.8
41

Borders
1
   4 
   138 
31.5
34.5
69

Dumfries and Galloway
-
   2 
 14 
7.0
7.0
8

Fife
7
 27 
   876 
28.0
32.4
97

Forth Valley
4
 18 
   585 
24.0
32.5
90

Grampian
2
 18 
   537 
29.5
29.8
64

Greater Glasgow and Clyde
8
 61 
 1,908 
29.0
31.3
106

Highland
6
 17 
   663 
35.0
39.0
122

Lanarkshire
-
   4 
   102 
25.5
25.5
37

Lothian
8
 37 
 1,034 
23.0
27.9
83

Orkney
-
- 
- 
-
-
   - 

Shetland
-
- 
- 
-
-
   - 

Tayside
-
 21 
   398 
17.0
19.0
35

Western Isles
1
   1 
 84 
84.0
84.0
84



  Table 2: Number of Patients Outwith the Six Week Planning Period, Total, Median, Mean and Maximum Delay Durations for NHS Delayed Discharges Awaiting Placement in a Care Home by Local Authority Partner at the July 2010 Census.

  
Local Authority Partner
Number of Patients Outwith the Six Week Planning Period1
Total (Patients) 2
Total Delay (Days)3
Median Duration (Days)4
Mean Duration (Days)5
Maximum Duration (Days)6

Scotland
37
  229 
 6,867 
28.0
30.0
   122 

East Ayrshire
-
 4 
   135 
 38 
 34 
 38 

North Ayrshire
-
 5 
   149 
 31 
 30 
 35 

South Ayrshire
-
   10 
   244 
21.0
24.4
41

Scottish Borders
1
 4 
   138 
31.5
34.5
69

Dumfries and Galloway
-
 2 
 14 
7.0
7.0
8

Fife
7
   27 
   876 
28.0
32.4
97

Clackmannanshire
-
 6 
 71 
11.0
11.8
21

Falkirk
-
 6 
   178 
31.0
29.7
41

Stirling
4
 6 
   336 
58.5
56.0
90

Aberdeen City
2
   10 
   326 
28.5
32.6
64

Aberdeenshire
-
 7 
   194 
30.0
27.7
35

Moray
-
 1 
 17 
17.0
17.0
17

East Dunbartonshire
-
 4 
   129 
35.5
32.3
41

East Renfrewshire
-
 1 
 34 
34.0
34.0
34

Glasgow City
7
   37 
 1,237 
29.0
33.4
106

Inverclyde
-
 4 
 51 
11.0
12.8
21

Renfrewshire
-
   10 
   265 
25.5
26.5
38

West Dunbartonshire
1
 4 
   154 
36.0
38.5
59

Argyll & Bute
-
  - 
- 
- 
- 
   - 

Highland
6
   17 
   663 
35.0
39.0
122

North Lanarkshire
-
 2 
 50 
25.0
25.0
36

South Lanarkshire
-
 3 
 90 
37.0
30.0
38

City of Edinburgh
6
   28 
   771 
23.0
27.5
58

East Lothian
1
 5 
   160 
21.0
32.0
83

Midlothian
1
 4 
   103 
23.5
25.8
47

West Lothian
-
  - 
- 
- 
- 
   - 

Orkney  
-
  - 
- 
-
-
   - 

Shetland
-
  - 
- 
- 
- 
   - 

Angus
-
 3 
 70 
31.0
23.3
35

Dundee City
-
   10 
   205 
22.5
20.5
31

Perth and Kinross
-
 8 
   123 
15.5
15.4
24

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
1
 1 
 84 
84.0
84.0
84



  Notes:

  1. Number of Delayed Discharges with a duration of over 6 weeks (43 days or more), i.e. the common period for discharge planning agreement timescales across Scotland

  2. Total number of Delayed Discharges, for all patients awaiting placement in a care home (reasons: Awaiting place availability in Local Authority Residential Home, Awaiting place availability in Independent Residential Home, Awaiting place availability in Nursing Home (not NHS funded), Non-availability of local authority funding to purchase Care Home Place, Awaiting place availability in care home (EMI/Dementia bed required), Patient exercising statutory right of choice), reported as at July 2010 census.

  3. Duration calculated from ‘Ready for Discharge Date’ to July 2010 census date.

  4. The middle value of the set of duration values when arranged in numerical order.

  5. Calculated by summing all duration values and dividing by the number of delays.

  6. The maximum value of all duration values.

  Source: ISD Scotland, Delayed Discharges Census.

  Ref: IR2010-02538.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Employability and Tackling Poverty teams.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed on its Employability and Tackling Poverty teams in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Freedom of Information Unit.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in its Freedom of Information Unit in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in its National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Media Monitoring unit.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in its Media Monitoring unit in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Saltire Prize External Communications unit.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in its Saltire Prize External Communications unit in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Events and Speechwriting Division.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in its Events and Speechwriting Division in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade are deployed in its Protocol and UK Relations unit.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff and at what grade were employed in the Protocol and UK Relations unit in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2007-08.

John Swinney: Table 1 details the number of full time equivalent staff and their grade currently deployed in the following teams: Employability and Tackling Poverty Team, Freedom of Information Unit, National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division, Media Monitoring Unit, Saltire Prize External Communications Unit, Events and Speechwriting Division and the Protocol and UK Relations Unit.

  Table 1: Total Number of Full-Time Equivalent Staff Deployed by Grade as of 30 September 2010

  
 Name of Team
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
Fast Stream
C1
C2
C3
SCS
Contingent
Temporary
Total

Employability and Tackling Poverty Teams.
1
1
4
6
5
0
3
0
0
1
7
28

Freedom of Information Unit
0
0
1
3.9
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
7.9

National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division 
0
1
1
1
3
1
1
3
0
1
1
13

Media Monitoring Unit.
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4

Saltire Prize External Communications Unit
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Events and Speechwriting Division
Team no longer exists.
0

Protocol and UK Relations Unit
2
0
1
2
3
0
0
1
0
1
1
11



  Additional Information for table 1

  Numbers of staff deployed includes all permanent and temporary staff.

  The Events and Speechwriting Division has been rationalised and no longer exists. As of 1 November 2010, 8 full time Event Officers supported by 3 full time assistants who are responsible for planning, delivering and managing Ministerial events and high-profile international engagement, and one full time Speechwriter are based in the Strategy and Ministerial Support Directorate.

  Tables 2, 3 and 4 detail the number of full time equivalent staff and their grade employed as at 31 March (a) 2010, (b) 2009 and (c) 2008 in the following teams: Employability and Tackling Poverty Team, Freedom of Information Unit, National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division, Media Monitoring Unit, Saltire Prize External Communications Unit, Events and Speechwriting Division and the Protocol and UK Relations Unit.

  Table 2: Number of Full-Time Equivalent Staff Employed as at 31 March 2010

  
 Name of Team
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
Fast Stream
C1
C2
C3
SCS
Total

Employability and Tackling Poverty Teams
Team Created 2010-11
0

Freedom of Information Unit
0
0
1
3
1.8
0
0
0
0
0
5.8

National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division
0
1
1
1
3
1
2
3
0
1
13

Media Monitoring Unit
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

Saltire Prize External Communications Unit
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1

Events and Speechwriting Division
4
0
3
2
4
0
2
0
0
1
16

Protocol and UK Relations Unit
2
0
1
2
3
0
1
1
0
1
11



  Table 3: Number of Full-Time Equivalent Staff Employed as at 31 March 2009

  
 Name of Team
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
Fast Stream
C1
C2
C3
SCS
Total

Employability and Tackling Poverty Teams
Team Created 2010-11
0

Freedom of Information Unit.
0
0
1
3
1.8
0
0
0.8
0
0
6.6

National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division
0
0
2
1
0
1
1
3
0
2
10

Media Monitoring Unit
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

Saltire Prize External Communications Unit
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2

Events and Speechwriting Division
Team Created 2009-10
0

Protocol and UK Relations Unit
Team Created 2009-10
0



  Table 4: Number of Full-Time Equivalent Staff Employed as at 31 March 2008

  
Name of Team 
A3
A4
B1
B2
B3
Fast Stream
C1
C2
C3
SCS
Total

Employability and Tackling Poverty Teams
Team Created 2010-11
0

Freedom of Information Unit
0
0
1
2.8
2
0
1
0.6
0
0
7.5

National Conversation, Referendum and Elections Division
Team Created 2008/09 
0

Media Monitoring Unit
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3

Saltire Prize External Communications Unit
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

Events and Speechwriting Division
Team Created 2009-10
0

Protocol and UK Relations Unit
Team Created 2009-10
0



  Additional Information for tables 2, 3 and 4

  Numbers of staff employed includes only permanent staff and those on a fixed term contract.

  Protocol and UK Relations division was formed at the start of 2009-10 as part of a wider restructuring; there are therefore no comparable figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09.

  The National Conversation, Elections and Referendum Division was established (via several interim groupings of staff) during 2008-09. The Division undertakes project work, with membership varying accordingly. Staff numbers peaked at 17 in summer 2009 (2 Senior Civil Servants, 3 C2, 2 C1, 4 B3, 1 BFS, 2 B1, 1 A4 and 2 temporary staff).

  There are currently 28 people in the Employability and Tackling Poverty Team. These staff came from the Social Inclusion division and from the Employability and Skills Division.

  The Events and Speechwriting Division only existed (as part of Communications Directorate) for the financial year 2009-2010. Prior to that, the events management work was organised differently (largely in what was then called the External Support Division, which was split up in a wider restructuring at the start of 2009-10, but International Division had responsibility for international visits). The business of event management and visit support was managed differently in the past and has been subject to review and rationalisation over time, and for these reasons a comparison is not possible.